Gratitude's Impact on Future Helping: More Complex Than It Seems
New research challenges the view that expressions of gratitude always encourage future helping. Two experiments showed mixed results related to gratitude notes and subsequent actions. Although gratitude did not significantly influence future helping, expressing it can improve relationships and personal feelings, highlighting its everyday importance despite differing impacts.
- Country:
- Canada
Recent research has raised questions concerning the widely-held belief that gratitude expressions invariably boost future helpfulness. Two studies published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology investigated this notion, utilizing a pre-registered, methodologically rigorous design.
Findings from experiments, which involved gratitude expressed via videos and written notes, revealed unexpected results. Participants who received gratitude messages did not exhibit significantly more helping behaviors than those who received none, indicating that gratitude's impact might be nuanced.
Nonetheless, the practice of expressing gratitude remains valuable for strengthening social bonds and enhancing the individual's sense of well-being. This research suggests that the specific content of gratitude messages may be less critical than the act of expressing appreciation itself.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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